Statement of Chairman on Transforming Tysons

The plan before us today marks the end
of a unique collaborative planning process that has taken place over the
last five years.

The Tysons Task
Force, chaired by Clark Tyler, worked for four and a half years to
produce a Vision for the Transformation of Tysons that is exciting and
forward thinking.

The Planning Commission's Tysons
Committee has worked for almost two years to bring us to this point.
The process has been one of inclusiveness, transparency and creativity
and I am impressed with the recommendations that have resulted from it.

This Board has been engaged in the process through briefings jointly
with members of the Planning Commission (in February), a lengthy
discussion earlier this month in our Revitalization Committee which
focused on the Transportation infrastructure needs and costs of Tysons,
and a briefing and Q&A session at our last Board Meeting on June 8th.
Lastly, each member of our Board has had the opportunity during the past
two weeks to discuss the proposal before us one-on-one with staff.

I would like to thank members of the Tysons Land Use Task Force, the
Planning Commission (especially members of the Planning Commission's
Tysons Committee), and our County staff for their hard work in
transforming the Vision into the Plan language that we have finally
before us.

While adoption of the plan will mark the end of one process, it also is
a beginning. By adopting this plan our Board is moving forward on a long
term strategy for accommodating future growth in Fairfax County. We are
committing to a Smart Growth pattern of development in Tysons - a
transit-oriented, environmentally sensitive, walkable, multi-use second
downtown for the Region, - a life style choice to offer our current and
future population.

This is also a new beginning for the processes we use to work with the
development community. In order to achieve the shared vision for Tysons
Corner, it is important that County staff work with developers and
landowners, along with our residential community, in a collaborative way
to make our Vision happen. The demonstration project at Tysons West has
provided us with a great model for how to do this.

The construction of four new rail stations in Tysons as
part of the Silver Line extension provides us with an opportunity to
plan transportation in a way that incorporates multi-modal access to
Tysons from other parts of the County. We must ensure that we have the
first phase of the Tysons
Circulator in place when the stations open in 2013, as well as
pedestrian and bike access to the stations. Efforts are currently
underway to prioritize these projects and staff is developing an overall
plan for funding the transportation improvements in Tysons.

Adoption of this plan language will not be the end. The Plan is a long
range tool for guiding change in Tysons, and will no doubt be the subject
of changes and amendments as growth evolves. A series of follow on
motions provides staff with overarching guidance and "next steps"
for us to take.